Compare towns
Becket vs Dummerston vs Ashby vs Westhampton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Becket has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).
Dummerston has the most people working from home (25.9%).
Ashby has the highest household income ($116k).
Westhampton has the most expensive homes ($413k median).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Becket | Dummerston | Ashby | Westhampton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,962 |
2,090 |
3,211Highest |
1,552Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.6±4.7 28% above U.S. |
45.6±11.7Lowest 17% above U.S. |
50.5±3Highest 30% above U.S. |
49.3±4.9 27% above U.S. |
| Ashby and Becket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.3%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.7%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
17%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
18%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Dummerston and Westhampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.3%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.3%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.5%±4.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
25.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Westhampton and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
58.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
47% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Westhampton and Becket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $80,417±$29kLowest about the U.S. average |
$101,696±$21k 26% above U.S. |
$115,598±$9kHighest 43% above U.S. |
$100,000±$7k 24% above U.S. |
| Ashby and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $361,000±$82k 9% above U.S. |
$335,300±$22kLowest about the U.S. average |
$390,500±$30k 17% above U.S. |
$413,200±$24kHighest 24% above U.S. |
| Westhampton and Ashby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,107±$1kHighest 49% above U.S. |
$1,392±$126 about the U.S. average |
$1,200±$484Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$1,304±$229 8% below U.S. |
| Becket and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,047Lowest about the U.S. average |
$4,536 45% above U.S. |
$6,034 93% above U.S. |
$6,476Highest 108% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.1%±32.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
36.4%±53.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
33.3%±53.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Becket and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 12.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 98.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
91.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1970 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 36% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 21% below U.S. |
33 min 25% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.3%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.9%±10.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.8%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.1%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dummerston and Ashby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | — | #200 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Central Berkshire | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | North Middlesex | Hampshire · Westhampton |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Hampshire Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 10.0 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.